Pipe-joint retainer



Amigo 23, W49 D. B. GRABLE 3 PIPE JOINT RETAINER Filed Aug. 25, 1947 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 z I. M 5 w 6 A a m j 2/; mm .T .6 n u L TIII I l I I I I I I m .P. v r N IIIIII I n--- III Aug 23, M49. D. B. GRABLE PIPE JOINT RETAINER Filed Aug. 25 19 INVENTQR.

Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE-JOINT RETAINER Donovan B. Grable, Long Beach, Calif.

Application August 25, 1947, Serial No. 770,384

17 Claims. 1

This invention has to do generally with the retention of threaded pipe joints against loosening or unthreading, and. is concerned particularly with improvements in joints for pipe strings,

especially well drill strings, by which rotary motion is transmitted from a power source to a tool carried by the string.

Considering for example a well drill pipe string, the latter customarily is employed to transmit clockwise or right hand rotation in normal operation of the tools. Accordingly the pipe sections of the string, as well as the pipe and intermediate or terminal tools, are connected by right hand thread joints. At times, operations may require rotation of the string and tools in an opposite direction, in which event it becomes necessary to first pull the string and replace the couplings with.

left hand thread joints, since it is unsafe to risk reverse rotation using right hand thread joints.

One of my major objects is to equip the conventional right hand thread joint in a manner assuring safety against its loosening or disengagement regardless of the direction of rotation and magnitude of the transmitted torque. While broadly the invention is applicable to any or all threaded joints in the entire string, 1. e. rod or pipe sections and inclusive of tools, it has special practical advantage, and will be so described and illustrated, as applied to the conventional sectional tool joints interconnecting successive pipe stands or sections.

More particularly considered, the invention aims to incorporate in a joint assembly a retention means or attachment having the general functions of yieldably resisting loosening of the joint threads, and also of constantly urging the sections in thread tightening relation. Preferably such attachment has the general form of a coil spring sleeve applied about the joint and terminally connected to its sections. Provision is made to utilize the sleeve for the dual purposes of preventing both relative axial and rotational loosening movement of the joint sections, by wrapping the sleeve tightly about the joint before attachment to its sections, and in so doing, pre-' tensioning the spring in a manner causing it to exert n the joint a constant tightening force.

The invention further contemplates various novel features with respect to the form of the spring sleeve and means for releasably attaching its end portions to the respective joint sections. Such features include the use of a spring sleeve formed by spirally cutting a pipe section, the insertion of removable split rings or bushings within the ends of the sleeve, and quipment of the rings with holding or gripping means releasably engageable with the joint sections.

The above indicated, as well as various additional features and objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments shown by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general elevation illustrating the positioning of the spring sleeve in the course of making up a drill pipe tool joint;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the method of applying the sleeve to the joint;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one end of the sleeve with the split ring received therein;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a variational form of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the invention will be described typically as applied to a right hand thread connection between the drill pipe stands It], in the form of a conventional tool joint generally indicated at H. The joint consists of a section l2 having a threaded box l3 receiving the threaded end of the upper stand l0, and a pin 14 receivable within the threaded box [5 of section [6 having a second threaded box end I! receiving the lower pipe stand. As will be understood, all the indicated joint parts have right hand threads. In the course of making up the drill string, its lower section carrying the coupling I6 is supported and held against rotation by the rotary table slips l8, and the pipe stand to be added is lowered to permit rotation of its pin l4 into the coupling.

- The described retention of the joint assembly, once made up, against loosening or release in response to left hand torque, is effected by appli cation to the joint assembly of a spring sleeve, generally indicated at I9, and terminally attached as will later be described, to the respective joint sections. In its preferred form, the sleeve l9 consists of an open tube section 20 spirally cut at a pitch having reverse relation to the thread pitch of the later described joints at 26, thus converting the intermediate section of sleeve to a coil spring 2! which, after attachment to the joint sections, tends to wind and assume tension in response to loosening of any of the joint threads. The internal diameter of the sleeve [9 preferably is just sufl'lciently larger than the outside diameter of the coupling [6 to permit the sleeve to be slipped down over and past the coupling with ease to the position shown in Fig. 1.

After the tool joint sections [2 and it are made up and tightened by the tongs to the condition illustrated in Fig. 2, sleeve I9 then is raised to a position permitting attachment of its end portions to the pipe stands l above and below the tool joint. Such attachment is efiected by the split ring or bushing inserts particularly illustrated in FigslB "to 6. Each attachmentmay oomprise'a" split ringassembly 22- including a pair of semi-circular sections 23 and 24 interconnected by a hinge at 25. The ring assembly has an inner left hand thread portion 26 adapted to hes-crewed into the correspondingly threaded .bore of the sleeve to the point of engagement of the ring shoulder 21 with the end of the-sleeve.

Each ring assembly 22 carries or 'contains means for releasably retaining the ring, and therefore the associated end Olf the sleeve 20, against varotationrrelative to the pipe I'll. in'a'direction tending to permit-loosening of. the; pretensioned spring -ZI. Referring to l, such holding means typically-may; compriseqia' toothed gripping ele- :unent.t28;.contained:andmovable laterally of the wipe-Within a.-recess,:29' in one of the ring sec- ;tions,- thegtoothedlface= 3ll .of .the element being ecurvedzor'rwedgeeshaped so that it will securely ggrjpthe pipe when forced against it by tightening the set screw 31. 'rTheelement 28'may be released irom g ip n z nga-gement' with the p pe y means of a pin thrust through'an opposite alined :openinge32-inthesring. Fig. 6 illustrates a preiXBI'I-Qd andwedgeeactua'ted. holding, means comprising a toothed gripping element 33retained twithin: recess =34;and.-having --anar 1gular face 35 engaged by the wedge 36. Advancement of' the :wedge by rotation: of set--screw'3'l'forcesthe ele- :rnent 33 radially inward intov tight gripping en- -gagementawith the :pipe 10. .Retraction of the wedge 36 may be permitted simply byloosening 1.121183 screw- 31, -with:or 'withoutother influence, as thy .-a pin thrust-through. hole 38.

rlnifurtherzconsider-ing:the method of attachment .-of'- the z-springsleeve to the joint,:- assume againithesleeve to .be positioned-as in Fig.2, and =thesplit ring-rassemblyrzz to be screwed into the esleeve endssasi shown in s-Fig. :3, By application :ofitongslflztotheexposed faces of the rings, the

rspringel'l tmay be wound-up tmadegree bringing Atu'nto tight engagement with the surfaces of :the couplingsections Hand 16. As a resultof :its winding-thespringis placed in a pretensioned -condition vof-tight confinement about the joint, in-rwhichthe spring-or. sleeve; is locked by thrustdngthe;gripping;e1ements:2B or33 into retaining engagementswiththe pipe. eFrom the" foregoing, it will be understood that the pretensioning of ethe springesleeverloeks the joint threads against loosening :in tworespects: First, the tightly wrapped: condition of the sleeve about: the joint gsectionsand its connections with the pipe stands, resists: any tendency foraxial parting movement 20f the-joint sections,---and-second-any tendency -.-of. thesection to rotate in-a' thread loosening di- :-rection immediately resisted bythe'tendency -of the attached spring sleeve to wind further'and ."flSSllll'IlG greatertension; the spring being particularly-effectivepin. this; respect by reason of its pretensionedicondition andconstant tendency to -,-exerttightening rotationiof the joint parts.

In contrast with the conventional practice and 'necessityz offhaving' to equip a drill String rnormallyihaving-"right'hand thread joints, with Llleftnhand ;.threa'd:joints where operationsnecessitate reverse rotation of the string, the invention makes possible the continued use of the same drill string and its couplings, by the simple expedient of applying to its joints the described retaining spring sleeve.

I claim:

1. A pipe string joint comprising a pair of sections having engaged threads, a coil spring sleeve surrounding and terminally connected to "the 1 sections and resisting relative'movement "thereof in a thread loosening direction, and wedge elements releasably attaching the end portions of the sleeve to said sections.

'.2..pipe string joint comprising a pair of sections having engaged threads, a coil spring sleeve surrounding and terminally connected to the .sections (and lresisting relative movement thereof in a thread loosening direction, and mem- -;berslreceived within the end portions of said sleeve to engage said sections and concentrically space the sleeve therefrom.

=3...--A;pipe. stringgjoint comprising a pair of sections having eengaged threads, a .coil 7 spring sleeve. surroundingsand terminally connected to the sections and Assisting relative movement thereof ina thread loosening direction; and split members threaded into-.the end portions of the sleeveand engaging said sections.

- 4. A pipe 1 strin -jointecomprisingca .;pair of sectionshaving.engagedthreads, a coil spring sleeve; surrounding;and-terminally .connectedto .the .sections .and -.resisting relative lmovement thereof in-althreadlooseningldirection, split members threaded into the end portions ofthe sleeve and engaging said sections, and means. releasably connecting said .membersto" the: sections.

5.5. The -combination comprising a well pipe string.includingea pair:ofpipe lengths, a tool joint comprisingsengaged threaded pin and box sections,.a coil spring sleeve tightly wrapped about saidv sections-and thereby pretensioned to constantly urge,thejsections-in-a thread tightening direction,..and..-means within'ntheend portions of the. sleeve; releasablyssecnringsaidend portions to said pipe lengths a-against tcnsion releasing rotation.

6. The/combination .:comprising\ a -well pipe string.including.- ,a .pair. .of;:pipe lengths a tool joint .comprisingcengagedzthreaded pin and box sections a coilspring sleeve tightly-wrappedabout said sections andgthereby pretensioned to con .stantly- :urgea-thelsections. in .a. threadtightening direction,split-rings-threaded into. the end portions .ofthesleeve, and. means releasably securingsaid ringsto saidpipe lengths against rotation .tendingto. loosenthe spring sleeve. tension.

--7. The combination comprising a well pipe .stringincluding.afpairtoii'pipelengths, a tool joint =.comprising.=engaged threadedapinjandz box sections, .a.coi1 spring: sleeve tightlywrappedabout said ..sections .and thereby, pretensioned to constantlynrge. the sections-in a thread tightening ...direction,. split.= ringsnthreaded into the end portions of the. sleeve and wedge elements carried by said rings .and releasably..engageable with said pipe. lengths ..to.- secure the. rings against rotation tending to-loosen. the ,spring sleeve tension.

- '8. 4 A pipe: string joint comprising; aipair of tubular sections havingengagedjthreadsconnecting adjacent ends :of the: sections, ;and =a spring connecting the;sectionsrandeengaging the outer surfaces thereofzbeyond said ends-said spring resisting relativemovementof the sections in a thread looseningdirection.

75 9.- A pipe string 'joint comprisinga-pair or tubular sections having engaged threads connecting adjacent ends of the sections, and a spiral spring connecting the sections and engaging the outer surfaces thereof beyond said ends, said spring resisting relative rotational movement of the sections in a thread loosening direction.

10. A pipe string joint comprising a pair of tubular sections having engaged threads connecting adjacent ends of the sections, and a pretensioned spiral spring connecting the sections and tightly engaged about and against the outer surfaces thereof beyond said ends, said spring resisting relative movement of the sections in a thread loosening direction.

11. A pipe string joint comprising a pair of tubular joint sections connected to a pair of smaller diameter pipe lengths and having engaged threads connecting adjacent ends of the sections, a spiral spring extending longitudinally about the outer surfaces of both said sections, and means connecting said spring to said pipe lengths.

outer surfaces, and a spiral spring connecting the sections and engaged about and against said surfaces of both sections, said spring resisting relative movement of the sections in a thread loosening direction.

14. A well pipe tool joint comprising a pair of engaged threaded pin and box sections having longitudinally alined substantially cylindrical outer surfaces, and a pretensioned spiral spring connecting the sections and tightly engaged about and against said surfaces of both sections, said spring resisting relative movement of the sections in a thread loosening direction, by virtue of both the torsional resistance of the spring and its tight frictional engagement with both of said surfaces.

15. A well pipe joint comprising three directly successive tubular sections having engaged threads connecting the sections, and a spring connecting the end sections and resisting relative movement of the sections in a thread loosening direction.

16. A well pipe joint comprising three directly successive tubular sections having engaged threads connecting the sections, and a spiral spring sleeve engaging the outer surfaces of the sections and connected to the end sections, said spring resisting relative rotation of the sections in a thread loosening direction.

17. A well pipe joint comprising three directly successive tubular sections having engaged threads connecting the sections, a spiral spring sleeve engaging the outer surfaces of the sections and connected to the end sections, said spring resisting relative rotation of the sections in a thread loosening direction, reduced diameter pipe lengths connected to the end section, and means within the end portions of said spring sleeve connecting the sleeve to said pipe lengths.

DONOVAN B. GRABLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,385,178 Levedahl July 19, 1921 1,579,648 Crickmer Apr. 6, 1926 2,176,504 McLaughlin Oct. 17, 1939 2,355,166 Johanson Aug. 8, 1944 

